I can’t stand the popular depictions of angels in art, classy or kitchy. Whenever angels appear in Scripture, unless they’re in the form of a man, they’re terribly frightening. They nearly always had to introduce themselves with, "Be not afraid" or something similar. They are not beautiful women or hunky men with wings. Nor are they Cupid look-alikes. Got that?!?
Here endeth the lesson.
And I’m always mad at the way Indians are depicted in images of the first Thanksgiving.
Here are these native people who taught the Europeans to survive the harsh New England winters, and they’re wearing loin clothes in Novemeber.
First rule of surviving the harsh New England winters: Put some clothes on!
Have you read the descriptions of the cherubim in the book of Daniel? Four faces — one of a man, one a lion, one an eagle, and one an ox. Four wings, not two, and hooves like a cow. No wonder they have to say, “Be not afraid!”
The Eastern depictions of the seraphim and cherubim at least get the number of wings accurate, and they look sufficiently weird that one could see how the real thing would scare the living daylights out of someone.